Child Support for your children is determined normally by the Child Support Guideline chart but parties can ignore the amount in the chart and they can agree upon a different amount if they choose to do so in a divorce agreement and the amount is reasonable. The Judge ultimately decides what is reasonable.  If the parties do not agree upon an amount, the judge must award child support based on the chart unless the judge can show that there are strong reasons to deviate from the chart.  These reasons may include a disabled child with higher support needs.   In most cases it is important to just get support in place and started.  Support can always be increased later.  Child support is not tax deductible to the person paying support.  Maintenance (alimony) is tax deductible.  It can be a wise tax reason to give your ex-spouse a higher child support labeled as maintenance if the non-custodial parent earns substantially more money than the custodial parent, so that, together, the parties overall tax bill decreases.   

A parent who does not get regular visitations with his or her child tends to pay child support very poorly.  A custodial parent may want to retaliate against the noncustodial parent by denying visitations.  In divorce and non-divorce cases, child support and visitation are two separate issues. If you are not getting visitations, you are still required to pay child support and if you are not getting child support you are still supposed to allow visitations.  i

In Kentucky, failing to pay child support for over 6 months or falling over $1,000 behind in support can be prosecuted as a class D felony and is punishable by up to 5 years in jail.  Being prosecuted for the failure to pay child support is serious. The failure to pay child support in any amount can also be punished civilly as contempt for any amount or as a Class A misdemeanor if the parent consistently fails to pay child support or is behind by at least 2 months. Attorney's fees can also be added to civil contempt motions.  Property may be attached and sold and income taxes refunds can be intercepted.  Child Support and maintenance is not bankruptable and it is the only debt that can be place you in jail.  

The Divorce Manual fully discusses child support.   Download your free copy.  This is an advertisement for the Divorce Manual.  This is not legal advice it is for informational purposes only.